~~i want to be everything you dreamed when you called my name~~

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

God of the Impossible

God's fingerprints are all over the book of Esther, but His name is not mentioned even once. And this led me to think about how many times I feel like God is silent or inactive...yet He's orchestrating something huge - as He did for His people in the time of Esther. Throught he courage of one woman, God supernaturally protected His people from annihilation and extinction. Esther reminds us that God is constantly at work behind-the-scences to deliver His own.

The story beings with Esther, a beautiful young Jewish girl, chosen by the Persian King Xerxes as his new queen (note that Xerxes was unaware at this point of her Jewish heritage). The wicked Haman, second-in-command of the Persian empire, plots to have all of the Jews killed as revenge for the refusal of Mordecai to bow down to him (Mordecai was Esther's cousin and former guardian, as well as a high-ranking government official). Haman convinces Xerxes that this mass extermination will be in the empire's best interest, and the execution is scheduled for a particular day according to a decree from the king himself. The date is chosen by casting lots, or purim. Even today, the Jewish people celebrate the Feast of Purim to commemorate God's deliverance from Haman. Mordecai asks Queen Esther to become involved, and she courageously reveals her heritage and exposes the plot to the king. Because of her love for her people, Esther risks her life by going against the king's law, saying, "If I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:19). The king has mercy on her and grants her request, and eventually Haman is hanged on the very gallows he has erected for Mordecai.

Esther's decision is similar to the one Jesus would make years later. Motivated by His love for us, our Savior became our representative in the courtroom of a holy God. It cost His life to save us from perishing (John 3:16). It seemed impossible for fallen humanity to gain a pardon from an offended God, but Jesus accomplished just that and then rose from the dead to prove it. Just as Haman was publicly humiliated and destroyed, so Jesus "disarmed the powers and authorities" of His enemy, Satan. "He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:15).

That which appears to be a futile cause for human beings is never unattainable for God. In fact, I think God specializes in the "impossible" as a means for demonstrating who He is. Many people throughout history have scoffed at God's seemingly improbable plans and methods. When He had informed one Abram and Sarai that they were going to have a son - they laughed because of their old age - until the miracle birth took place (Genesis 18:13-14). And when Mary learned that she had been chosen to give birth to God's Son, she very logically inquired, "How will this be...since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34). God's angel messenger reminded her that "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). And even in Persia, God was watching out for His people, quietly setting all the pieces in place for their deliverance.

Presently, I feel surrounded by some impossible situations...
...a dissertation I've worked for 3 years on - not being accepted by my committee...
...a house we are confident God has led us to - with unreasonable requests from the seller's realtor...
But in the midst of all of this, I know that God is sovereign over all things! I am glad I serve the God of the impossible - trusting that He will bring these dreams He has placed before me to fruition!
If I perish...let me perish...I am Yours...I am Yours...